To be held on Tuesday, November 6, the elections present an opportunity for the Democrats to regain a say in Government, with the Republicans currently controlling both houses.
How many seats are up for grabs in the House of Representatives?
All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives are being voted on in the midterm.
Currently Republicans control 248 of those seats, giving them an easy majority.
Because the House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws, having a majority is important for any party hoping to influence the legislative direction of the country.
The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.
The House is one of Congress’s two chambers, sometimes referred to as the lower house of Congress, with the other being the Senate, referred to as the upper house.
How many seats are being contested in the Senate?
Of the Senate's 100 seats, 35 are being be contested.
Republicans currently control 54 seats in the Senate, so with 35 up for grabs, it is possible the midterms could see a change in the balance of power.
Each state elects two senators to serve 6 years terms, regardless of their population.
The Senate's duties range from writing and passing laws, approving many presidential appointments, and ratifying treaties with other countries.
The upper house is also charged with the ratification of Supreme Court justices – one reason the republicans were determined to have the controversial election of Brett Kavanaugh elected before the election, despite multiple sexual assault allegations.
Another important duty of the Senate is conducting trials of those impeached by the House – another reason Republicans are eager to maintain a hold on the upper house, given the number of calls for impeachment have been made against the current president.
Source: Read Full Article